Consumer Sentiment at 105.4 But Down in a Month: Why We Must Look at Wallets Separately

The Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) for October 2026, released by the Bank of Korea on October 27, stood at 105.4, down 1.2 points from the previous month. This is the result of simultaneously exhibiting a level above the long-term average and a weakening of sentiment over the course of a month, and one cannot conclude solely from this figure that consumption has increased or decreased. To judge year-end sales and household expenditures, one must read the comprehensive index by dividing it into current living standards, income, expenditures, and economic outlooks. The Meaning of Falling While Exceeding 100 The baseline value of 100 for the CCSI, which is the consumer sentiment index, is neither this year's target nor the appropriate level of consumption for households. This data uses the long-term average from January 2003 to December 2025 as its benchmark. A value of 105.4 means that su…